Oil burner with electrical vaporizer



Dec. 13, 1955 w. H. TEGTMEYER OIL BURNER WITH ELECTRICAL VAPORIZER Filed Aug. 26, 1952 IN V EN TOR.

W/ILTER H. TEGTMEYER United States Patent F OIL BURNER WITH ELECTRICAL VAPORIZER Walter H. Tegtmeyer, Cleveland, Ohio Application August 26, 1952, Serial No. 306,363

Claims. (Cl. 158-28) This invention relates to a heating apparatus for a domestic furnace or an industrial furnace, such as a steam generating boiler, the latter being shown for exemplification purposes.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of this type comprising a burner and a source of fuel. supply therefor of simplified construction, whereby the supply of fuel may be regulated to heat the air in a room or water to generate steam and to automatically reduce the fuel supply when the air in the room or the steam pressure reaches a predetermined degree, while maintaining the burner jet lighted, so that various automatic controls may be eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved burner for a heating apparatus consisting of an elongated chamber terminating in a jet and enclosing an elongated fuel supply pipe and heating means associated with the walls of the chamber for vaporizing the oil while flowing through the pipe to the jet.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved burner consisting of an elongated shell mounted in the wall of the furnace into and through which air flows for mixture with vaporized fuel and an elongated chamber projecting into the shell and terminating in a jet, the chamber enclosing an elongated pipe through which the fuel flows and having a heating means associated with walls of the chamber, whereby the oil is vaporized in advance of its ignition.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a heating apparatus an improved burner consisting of an elongated tubular member and heating means associated with the walls thereof, the tubular member being closed at its rearward end and terminating at its forward end in a jet and having a transverse wall disposed rearwardly of its forward end forming within the tubular member a closed vaporizing compartment through which the fuel supply pipe extends and a forward chamber into which the vaporized fuel is discharged for flow to and through the jet.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. l is a view, partly in section and partly diagrammatic, of an apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig.1, enlarged;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section ofparts shown in Fig. 1, enlarged; and v Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modification.

In the drawing, 1 indicates the wall of a furnace of any desired form of construction having a combustion chamber In. 2 indicates a boiler having fines 2a through which the gases and products of combustion flow to an exhaust (not shown). The wall 1 is formed with an enlarged through opening 3 in which is seated a shell 4, the inner wall of which adjacent its rearward end is provided with screw threads. 5 indicates as an entirety a hood for the rearward end of the shell. The hood 5 consists of a side wall 5a, preferably of conical shape,

2,726,715 Patented Dec. 13, 1955 ICC and a plate having an annular wall 5b suitably bolted to lugs on the inner side of the wall 5a adjacent its rearward end. The plate is provided with a diametrically extending wall 5e. The forward end of the wall 5a is provided externally with screw threads engaging the screw threads on the inner wall of the shell 4, whereby the hood 5 is removably secured to the shell 4. The openings 5' between the annular wall 5b and wall 5e provide for the admission of air into and through the shell 4 to insure combustion, as later set forth.

6 indicates as an entirety a burner consisting of the following; 6a indicates a tubular member the rearward end of which is provided with a flange suitably bolted to the forward side of the wall See, whereby the wall 5e serves as an end wall for the tubular member 6a and supports the latter in the position as shown in Fig. l. A suitable gasket may be provided between the flange and the wall 5e. The forward end of the tubular member 6a is closed by disk 6b formed of a suitable material capable of withstanding high temperatures. The disk 6b may be secured in the tubular member 6a in any desired manner, but, as shown, the side wall of the disk 6b is provided with screw threads which engage screw threads on the inner wall of the tubular member 6a. As shown, the disk 6b is screwed into the tubular member approximately one-half its thickness, the screw threads on the disk outwardly of the tubular member being utilized to engage screw threads on the inner wall of a cap 7, whereby the latter is connected to and supported by the tubular member 6a. The cap 7 is preferably of substantially semi-spherical shape, its crown portion axially of the tubular member 6:! being formed with an opening or jet 7a through which the vaporized fuel is discharged. In the arrangement shown, the disk 6b co-operates (a) with the wall 5e to form an elongated closed chamber 8, which, as later set forth, provides a vaporizing chamber for the supplied oil, and (b) with the cap 7 to form a receiving chamber 7b for the vaporized fuel. 9 indicates an electrical resistance, preferably in coiled form, within and extending endwise of the chamber 8, the resistance 9 having lead in and out wires 9a extending through an opening formed in the side wall of the tubular member 6a adjacent its inner end and connected through a suitable rheostat 9x to contacts or terminals mounted in a block of insulation material 10, which is mounted on the wall 5e, whereby the terminals of a conventional plug A, connected with a supply of electrical current, may be inserted in the block 10 for supplying current to the resistance 9. The resistance 9 is disposed between inner and outer layers of mica 11 and 11, the inner layer 11 surrounding a cylinder 12 and the outer layer 11' being surrounded by a layer of heat resisting material such as asbestos 13, these layers and the cylinder 12 being coextensive in length to the chamber 8. The cylinder 12 is formed of a metallic material having a high co-eflicient of heat conductivity whereby the radiant heat waves emitted by the resistance heats the air Within the vaporizing compartment 12a formed by the sleeve 12, wall 5e and disk 6b. 14 indicates a pipe, preferably of helical form to increase its length, extending through the vaporizing chamber or compartment 12a. The pipe 14 is formed of a metal or metal alloy capable of resisting high temperatures and having high heat conductivity. By providing a pipe of helical or coiled form in the chamber 8, the length of the tubular member 6a is reduced,:so that the latter may be advantageously adapted to furnace walls which vary in thickness. The convolutions of the pipe coil are of a size to provide contact with the inner Wall of the cylinder 12 to increase the transmission of heat to the compartment 12a. The rearward end portion of the pipe 14 extends through openings formed in the layers of mica, asbestos 13 and side wall of the tubular member 6a, the inner end of the pipe 14 being connected to the inner end of a fitting 15 mounted in an opening formed in the wall See, the outer end of the fitting being connected to the discharge end of a main oil supply pipe 16. The forward end portion of the pipe 14 extends through an opening formed in the disk 6b for discharging the vaporized or gaseous fuel into the receiving chamber 7b. 17 indicates a nut having a boss 17a which is screw threaded into an opening formed in the wall 5e axially of the sleeve 12. The nut 17 and boss 17a are formed with a through opening the wall of which is provided with screw threads engaging the screw threads on the outer end portion of a rod 18, whereby the latter may be adjusted endwise. The rod 18 extends through the vaporizing compartment 120, chamber 7b and jet 7a, the forward end of the rod 18 being provided with a head 19, preferably of spherical shape, which serves to direct and. diverge the burning fuel outwardly over a wide area in the shell 4' to insure a uniform mixture of the air supplied through the shell 4 with the gaseous fuel, whereby combustion of the latter is effected.

20 indicates a tank filled with oil, the bottom of the tank being connected to the inner end of the main supply pipe 16. 21 indicates a suitable pump driven by a motor (not shown) for inducing a flow of oil through the pipe 16. 22 indicates a valve in the pipe 16 between the tank 20 and pump 21. 23 indicates a suitable check valve. 24 indicates a separate valve in the main supply pipe 16 and adapted to control the flow of oil through the latter. 25 indicates a suitable automatic cut-off mounted in the main flow pipe 16 outwardly of the separate valve 23, the cut-off having a suitable magnetically operated valve element connected in an electric circuit, which is closed when the temperature in the room rises to a degree as set by a thermostat (also connected in the circuit). To insure a limited supply of oil to the vaporizing compartment 12a for vaporization and supply thereof to the jet 7a, whereby the gaseous fuel discharged from the latter is maintained ignited, I provide a by-pass for oil consisting of a pipe 26 the inner end of which is connected to the main supply pipe 16 between the check valve 23 and separate valve 24. The forward end of the pipe 26 is connected to the main supply pipe 16 forwardly of the cut-off 25. 27 indicates an adjustable valve mounted in the pipe 26 and arranged to control to a minimum the flow of oil through the pipes 26 and 16; that is, when the cut-01125 operates to stop flow of oil through the pipe 16, the valve 27 limits the flow of oil through the bypass pipe 26 so as to maintain a pilot flame at the jet 7a. The valve 27 may be adjusted to control the flow of oil to the vaporizing chamber and ignited jet to insure a continuous maintenance of the latter. 28 indicates a separate cut-01f mounted in the by-pass pipe 26 for cutting off flow therethrough when repairs to the furnace 1 or other parts are being made or when the furnace for other reasons is not in use, so that the adjustment of the valve 27 is not atfected.

In operation, the plug A is first inserted in the block 10 to initially heat the vaporizing chamber 12a; thereafter pump 21 is set in operation, valve 24 is closed and valves 22, 27 and 28 are opened, whereby oil is supplied through the by-pass pipe 26 and pipe 16 and vaporized in the chamber 12a and the gaseous fuel is supplied to the chamber 7b and to the jet and lighted. The valve 27 is then adjusted to regulate the ignited fuel to provide a pilot of the desired size. Next the valve 24 is opened to provide for full flow of oil to and through the pipe 16 for vaporization in the chamber 12a. It will be observed thatunder normal conditions oil flows through both pipes 16 andv 26, so that if the cut-off 25 operates, due to rise of temperature in the area controlled by the thermostat, oil flows only through the pipe 26 and the pipe 16 outwardly of the cut-off and during flow through that portion of the latter within the chamber 12 the oil is vaporized for mixture with the air supplied through the shell 4.

When the cut-01f is restored to open position the flow of oil through the pipe 16- past the cut-01f is re-established.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification wherein the pressure of the steam generated in the boiler 2x is utilized to operate a cut-off 25x mounted in the main supply pipe 16x, the oil by-pass pipe being indicated at 26x. A pipe 29 for the steam leads from the upper portion of the boiler 2x to the cut-off 25x; the pipe 29 being provided with suitable insulation (not shown). It will be observed that I provide a burner and oil supply thereto having only one control device, namely, a cut-off in the main supply pipe so that a simplified construction results.

What I claim is:

l. A burner for a combustion chamber, comprising an elongated shell forming a conduit for air, a hood having a side wall, the forward end of which is mounted on the intake end of said shell, and a plate having an annular wall secured to the rearward end of said side wall and a diametrically disposed wall forming at each side thereof an opening to admit air into said shell, a tubular member fixed at its rearward end to and closed by said diametrical wall and extending forwardly axially of and into said shell, the forward end of said tubular member having an end wall formed with a jet opening, a transverse wall in said tubular member between said diametrical wall and said outer end wall to form in said tubular member rearward and forward chambers, a sleeve within and coextensive in length to said rearward chamber and concentric to the adjacent side wall of said tubular member, a pipe extending through said rearward chamber, the rearward end of which is adapted to be connected with a supply of oil and its forward end portion extending through said transverse wall into said forward chamber, an electrical resistance surrounding said sleeve within said rearward chamber and adapted to be connected to an electrical current supply for heating the air and pipe in said rearward chamber, whereby the oil during how thereof through said pipe is vaporized for discharge into said forward chamber and flow through said jet opening.

2. A burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pipe in said rearward chamber is in helical form from end to end thereof.

3. A burner as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer walls of the convolutions of said pipe coil throughout the length thereof are in contact with the inner wall of said sleeve.

4. A burner as claimed in claim 1 wherein is provided a rod extending through said rearward and forward chambers and said diametrical wall, the forward end of said rod having a valve element for said jet opening and its rearward end portion having screw threaded engagement with said diametrical wall, whereby rotation of said rod serves to move it endwise to adjust said valve element relative to said jet opening.

5. A burner as claimed in claim 4 wherein said valve element isof spherical shape and adapted to direct gaseous fuel radially and outwardly for uniform mixture with the air flowing through said shell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 703,566 Fox July 1, 1902 741,504 Kemp Oct. 13, 1903 953,748 Kowaski Apr. 5, 1910 1,091,637 Davis Mar. 31, 1914 1,263,257 Lewis Apr. 16, 1918 1,610,007 Hildebrandt Dec. 7, 1926 1,718,101 Ainscow June 18, 1929 1,844,315 Forney Feb. 9, 1932 2,075,242 Todaro Mar. 30, 1937 2,198,511 Hadjefi Apr. 23, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 456,007 France June 9, 1913 691,327 France July 8, 1930 

